tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post1044450515881627427..comments2017-07-23T00:59:59.193-04:00Comments on Linda's Bees: Absconding vs. Colony Collapse DisorderLinda Tnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-66984888540532970042015-12-06T09:23:34.233-05:002015-12-06T09:23:34.233-05:00Feeding is something about which to be careful. If...Feeding is something about which to be careful. If you fed and the bees did not need feeding, the bees would have filled up all the cells with syrup, leaving no room for the queen to lay. This can be a cause for them to leave the hive. I rarely feed because I want the bees to take care of themselves and instead leave lots of honey for the hive every harvest season. The queen has to be able to lay to have bees to live through the winter.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-41346257142222628422015-11-01T20:04:37.776-05:002015-11-01T20:04:37.776-05:00Two weeks ago, I filled the syrup feeders and all ...Two weeks ago, I filled the syrup feeders and all 9 hives were really full of active bees. Today I checked and 5 hives were empty of bees. A very few death ones, but gives still had honey and feeders were still half full! No foul oders or things that looked abnormal. Weather has been damp, highs 50s lows in 30s. Anyone have any insight as to what I should watch for on the 4 remaining healthy looking hives?Bill Zagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03260217013679351484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-10181619510066938312012-01-23T14:11:25.414-05:002012-01-23T14:11:25.414-05:00Good luck, Kevin. It helps if you have a mentor t...Good luck, Kevin. It helps if you have a mentor to get someone more experienced to look at the left-behind hive - you&#39;ll get a better idea of what might have gone wrong to help you with what we all experience - beekeeper error - going forward.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-91209565823541483182012-01-23T13:46:34.722-05:002012-01-23T13:46:34.722-05:00First year as a beekeeper, harvested almost 4 gall...First year as a beekeeper, harvested almost 4 gallons of amazing honey. Somewhere around December 10th I noticed quite a bit of activity outside the hive on an unusually warm winter day. No flowers blooming that time of year in Northern Utah and a couple of days later we had a terrific windstorm. 2 or 3 days after that I check the hive and there are no bees. A few dead bees in the bottom screen and 20 - 30 lbs of honey still in the hive. Before the storm I noticed the lid had a gap in it and I pushed it back down. Very sad as they can&#39;t have survived leaving in the winter. I did something to cause this and I am not sure what. Emptied a composter about 5 ft away from the hive and the soil was sweet, no bad smell to it. Maybe the lid being askew let too many wasps in? I just don&#39;t know. I am going to replace them and it is time to order but I am hesitating, wondering if I will have it happen again. <br />KevinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-77736918056437428952012-01-10T16:51:17.678-05:002012-01-10T16:51:17.678-05:00I found you by looking up the word absconding. We ...I found you by looking up the word absconding. We lost our bees last year. We are beginner bee keepers and will keep trying. I can&#39;t wait to show my husband your site. This is awesome. THANKSCarol A.Benderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00324327207174466510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-47049332323068743982011-12-31T01:40:09.576-05:002011-12-31T01:40:09.576-05:00I just started bees and i feel so awkward. There ...I just started bees and i feel so awkward. There is so much to learn. I hope u r doing well.Amythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17644562274973016477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-35491552507551551922010-08-07T03:54:30.504-04:002010-08-07T03:54:30.504-04:00You may want to read this book:
&quot;Essence and...You may want to read this book:<br /><br />&quot;Essence and Mechanism of Nest Abandonment by Honeybee Swarms&quot;<br /><br />(IBRA)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-60948580267324758672010-08-02T03:11:10.502-04:002010-08-02T03:11:10.502-04:00Linda, so sorry to hear about your loss of bees, y...Linda, so sorry to hear about your loss of bees, you are such a great mentor to so many of us, I for one, appreciate the fact that you do speak about your losses and pain, things that can happen to any of us who keep bees - thank you for your compassion and knowledge. Best of luck <br />Arohanui<br />Marciangaiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06621344084932510113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-60487923268727940222010-08-01T12:59:14.882-04:002010-08-01T12:59:14.882-04:00Linda - wow, you have been such a help to me throu...Linda - wow, you have been such a help to me through your blog - wish I could help you, too. I get upset if I squish any of my girls when replacing supers, can&#39;t imagine losing the whole hive. I am in the second year of bee keeping - no real training except a short class at a local museum and reading any book I can get my hand on. I have discovered mites on the drone brood and am nervous about a weaken hive going into the fall, so I am foregoing the last honey flow in order to medicate early and get them ready for the cold winters of Upstate NY. <br /> Best of luck with the rest of the season. <br />BarbyBarbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05977711518704494231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-79873194514816826442010-07-31T20:53:17.126-04:002010-07-31T20:53:17.126-04:00So sorry for the loss Linda. It&#39;s definitely ...So sorry for the loss Linda. It&#39;s definitely a challenge and you&#39;ve got a pot full of it this year unfortunately. <br /><br />One of my new hives decided to swarm even though they had a completely empty super available. Luckily, my husband was sitting out with the neighbour and saw the action happening in the top of a pine tree. I&#39;ve been feeding the new swarm hoping they stay around because there seems to be a dearth of natural food about for them right now. <br /><br />About Colony Collapse - have you watched the documentary Nicotine Bees? I highly recommend it - for some reason, the info it contains, which is well known in Europe, is not hitting the media here. I can venture a guess as to why but will leave that for now. If you can get your association to have a viewing of it, I think it may help explain some things. <br /><br />Please don&#39;t lose courage and thank you again for your blog.<br /><br />Here&#39;s a link to a preview:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YqCSX08u7U<br /><br />-WendyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-4496511007705021672010-07-31T17:35:02.332-04:002010-07-31T17:35:02.332-04:00Linda,
I was hoping to meet you today. Don K said...Linda,<br />I was hoping to meet you today. Don K said you were coming up to his bee yard. I am in training with Don and picked up my first 2 nucs today. I also started a blog if you are interested.<br /><br />http://beekeepinginlulaga.blogspot.com/Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08820270185311724947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-83868972510192554432010-07-30T16:17:26.673-04:002010-07-30T16:17:26.673-04:00Linda (((HUGS))) I&#39;m so sorry about this loss....Linda (((HUGS))) I&#39;m so sorry about this loss. I can only imagine how you feel. I do appreciate you sharing the experience with your readers as I&#39;m very new to beekeeping and only know a fraction of what I need to know. If I were there I&#39;d cry with you. <br /><br />Thank you for explaining the absconding, CCD and swarming differences as well!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738864691732179532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-15049186081517736172010-07-30T10:02:24.165-04:002010-07-30T10:02:24.165-04:00Dear Linda - my heart breaks for you, but please n...Dear Linda - my heart breaks for you, but please note your post may have saved my hive. After reading it, I realized I was seeing the same things, rushed home to make sugar syrup (I felt it was too early to feed, too) and placed it in the hive this morning. Sure enough, I had starving bees and they may not have stayed longer. I did have enough room, I think, but hopefully they will discover the new food quickly. You will never know how much you blog has helped me. Bless you. KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-61253713305227981852010-07-29T22:29:54.169-04:002010-07-29T22:29:54.169-04:00What is it about beekeeping that&#39;s so humbling...What is it about beekeeping that&#39;s so humbling? Is it the very alien nature of insect life, so different from our mammalian experience? <br /><br />You and your blog-writing have been an inspiration to me, and I&#39;ve always been impressed with how honestly you describe your failures as well as your successes.. . . Lisa and Robb . . .https://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-1953604689975787192010-07-29T22:11:12.551-04:002010-07-29T22:11:12.551-04:00Shit.Shit.Lizhttp://www.two-honeys.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-83597590385845908882010-07-29T21:03:08.487-04:002010-07-29T21:03:08.487-04:00Dear Linda,
I have been following your blog for ...Dear Linda, <br /><br />I have been following your blog for about a year now, and you have been so helpful to me as I started my first two hives this spring. I am so sorry that the Mellona bee&#39;s absconded and feel your sadness. <br /><br />I am wondering if other beekeepers in your area have also experienced the dearth, and how they have responded.<br /><br />I am also wondering if those of us that are beekeeping shouldn&#39;t try to plant bee-friendly gardens/wildflower gardens to make sure the bees have adequate local nectar supply?<br /><br />And another thought, if the bees needed to do leave to survive, then maybe that is something to celebrate, rather that despair. It is akin to watching your children leave home. They need to leave to grow. Survival is built into all creatures. It is better that they left in order to find a sustainable environment, than to stay and die.Worker Beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04944481438140945742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-23373742088750737952010-07-29T19:52:44.151-04:002010-07-29T19:52:44.151-04:00I am so sorry this happened. I felt so bad for yo...I am so sorry this happened. I felt so bad for you and could empathize about sitting down and crying...I think I would do the same. How does one know the difference between colony collapse disease and absconding? Maybe this did happen through no fault of your own. Either way, I am very sad for you and your bees that it did happen. Thank you for sharing your story, hopefully it will help someone else.Dorishttp://honeyofadiel.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-82305687652943561652010-07-29T18:39:57.787-04:002010-07-29T18:39:57.787-04:00The rule &quot;follow the rules and get it right&q...The rule &quot;follow the rules and get it right&quot; ... h&#39;m.<br />Never mind. I would buy a small temperature data logger and put it on the upper frames. It helps to observe what&#39;s going on in the hive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-56594462224597573822010-07-29T15:50:55.140-04:002010-07-29T15:50:55.140-04:00Dear Linda! I agree you are brave to report your...Dear Linda! I agree you are brave to report your loss and it will possibly help others from losing their bees. Our first hive absconded in 2007, so we installed two hives in the Spring of 2008. So far, so good, but, as Winnie says, you can never tell with bees.Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02777513495995940724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-48157429404130145802010-07-29T14:27:05.960-04:002010-07-29T14:27:05.960-04:00I would feel exactly the same way if my hive were ...I would feel exactly the same way if my hive were to despond on me. I&quot;m very much like you in my hive management, I try my very best to follow the rules and use all sorts of strategies to get ahead of what my bees would do. I recently had a visit from my local bee inspector and she was telling me that alot of apiaries in British Columbia she inspects have experience their bees abandoning the hive (swarm) eventhough there was enough space in the hive. She could not explain why this was happening. I got another beekeeper friend who recaptured her hive that swarmed and shortly after about a month it swarmed off again.Bees of Stoney Creekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08191990277772297183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-40416605662621616742010-07-29T11:56:06.154-04:002010-07-29T11:56:06.154-04:00Thank you - what a comforting thing to say.Thank you - what a comforting thing to say.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-9911346952842024042010-07-29T11:53:17.885-04:002010-07-29T11:53:17.885-04:00I&#39;m very sorry this happened. It&#39;s a shame...I&#39;m very sorry this happened. It&#39;s a shame that some of the biggest lessons come with loss. Thank you for still taking the time to record this experience, even in your saddened state. It will very likely prevent someone else from losing their colony. Small comfort, but there is no great loss without some small gain.dehaviknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-36946602671277072742010-07-29T11:40:01.560-04:002010-07-29T11:40:01.560-04:00Feel the hug.Feel the hug.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361675024616093015noreply@blogger.com